The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-10-26
A FIGHT WITH DESPERADOES.
A Party "f Vigilantes Have Desperate FL
counter With Outlaws in Indian
Territory.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, October 21A
special to the Gazette from Wawooka,
Indian territory, via Muskego, this even
ing says: On Thursday desperate fight
took place on the north fork of the Ar
kansas river between Bud Trainers gang
| of outlaws and vigilante committee un-
der the leadership of Robert Henderson, a
Scotch half breed, which followed them
to Duckworth's store in the Creek nation,
on a raid there Wednesday. It appears
that the outlaws, finding out the size of
the force which was following them, de-
cided to risk an encounter and made haste
to reach the river banks where they could
find shelter behind trees and in ravines
which line the banks on either side In
this they succeeded SO that when the
vlgliantes came up they we're entirely for
time at the mercy of two scores of men
who know not what mercy is. Henderson
brought his men a short distance up the
river where afording place could be found.
They crossed and took up position on
the other side Of the stream from the out
laws, where his men were as we'll protect
ed as Trainers were The river at this
point is only about one hundred yards
wide, and across this distance, from Thurs
day morning until night, bullets were
singing to their mission of death. When
bn vic for 49,
this position they found they had lost
three men and two more were seriously
wounded. AS Trainer found the enemy
in his rear on the opposite side of the
river, he sent half of his men down stream
to the crossing and one party up on the
other side fighting under cover of the
trees. In this coup d'etat they were sur
prised by the avengers, who met them
half way and opened fire upon them,
checking their course and driving them
panic stricken and precipitated back. In
endeavoring to rally his men, Bill Chutt
was killed, and before the river could be
reforded John Lerch, of the robbers gang,
was shot off his horse but not killed. The
fight from this on was continued across
the stream, the banks of which were lined
at distances of about five rods apart with
sharp shooters. No sooner was head,
an arm or any portion Of the body visible
on either side than bullet was seeking to
find Judgement therein. AS night was
coming on, Henderson called his men in
for consultation, when it was found that
Of his force eight men were killed out
right and eight others had received seri-
Gus. though not fatal wounds. The force
was in this way reduced one-half, and it
was thought best to remove the wounded
and go back home and stir up reinforce
ments. The dead were buried and the
wounded it was found after dressing their
were able to return home with
the rest of the party. It is thought that
many or the outlaws were killed. Hen
derson says he will collect men and follow
the robbers to hades, if necessary, but |
what he will wipe them out Henry Ayers,
q well-to-do stockman from Cherokee Ma
5ion, who was one of the party with Hen
lerson, says he is of the opinion that not
ess than fifteen were killed outright upon
Doth sides and thinks one-half the outlaws
who we're not killed were wounded.